Jig and form for use in constructing storage batteries



Dec. 9, 1941'. J. w. YOUNG 2,265,413

JIG'AND FORM FOR USE IN GONSTRUCTING STORAGE BATTERIES Original FiledFeb. 4, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 9, 1941. J. w. YOUNG 2,265,413

JIGiAND FORM FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING STORAGE BATTERIES Original FiledFeb. 4, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 9, 1941.

J. W. YOUNG JIG AND FORM FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING STORAGE BATTERIESOriginal Filed Feb. 4, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Even/Z07 Patented Dec. 9,1941 JIG AND FORM FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING STORAGE BATTERIES John W.Young, Lancaster, N. Y., assignor to National Battery Company, St. Paul,Minn., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Serial No.254,663, February 4, 1939. This application May 26, 1941, Serial No.395,196

12 Claims.

This application is a continuation of an application filed on Feb. 4.1939, Serial No. 254,663.

In the manufacture of certain types of storage batteries numerousmembers for electrically connecting groups of plates must be temporarilyheld in proper relationship to each other during the formation of thepermanent fastenings and to meet the demand for uniformity in theproduct and economical and rapid assembly of such batteries I havedevised the herein described clamping and forming mechanism which may bequickly attached to and detached from the battery parts.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel mechanism of thisclass.

A further object is to provide a jig and form adapted to simultaneouslyreceive and hold all of the intercell posts in a battery container inproper relation to each other and to the container during the formationof the permanent connections between such posts.

Another object is to provide mechanism of this class adapted to bereadily adjusted for use in constructing batteries of various sizes andshapes.

Other objects will appear and be more fully pointed out in the followingspecification and claims.

Referring to the accompanylnng drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved jig and form, mounted adjacent toa battery assembly line conveyor;

Fig. 2 is an end view of my device with the movable jig carrier inelevated position;

Fig. 3 is a front view, with the carrier in elevated position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1and also showing the upper portion of a battery with intercellconnecting members in place in the jig;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-5 of Fig. 1, but withthe jig carrier lowered into the top of a battery;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. l,and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the movable clamping and formingmembers of the jig.

m device is particularly although not exclusively adapted for use inmaking permanent connections between intercell posts, such as the posts8 and 9 of a storage battery having a container ill of the commonthree-cell type. The posts 8 and I have intercell connector membersindicated by the numerals II and I! which must be joined together abovethe intercell partitions indicated by the numeral IS. The batteryillustrated has two pairs of the posts 8 and 8 and the posts of eachpair have their upper ends integral respectively with the intercellconnector members II and I2. My improved jig holds the several posts andconnector members II and I2 firmly in place leaving the upper surfacesof the latter exposed for the application of a flame which fuses themtogether in pairs. The operation of making the intercell connections ispreferably performed before the battery cover or separate cell covers(not shown) are placed in or on the container II).

I provide a jig carrier frame having parallel end bars i4 and a centerbar l5 rigidly joined together by side bars IE to form a rectangularstructure adapted to fit into the tops of the battery containers I0successively. Beveled guide lugs il project down from the bars [6 tofacilitate centering the frame in the battery containers. A pair ofclamping heads, indicated generally by the numeral II, are slidablymounted in the carrier frame. Each of these heads is formed with groovesin its opposite, longitudinal side edges to slidably receive tonguesformed on the frame members i4 and I5. At one end each of the heads l8has a rectangular opening I! to receive and confine a pair of the posts8 and 9 at three sides which are flat and disposed vertically. Asupporting tongue 20 for a pair of the members H and I2 is also rigidlysecured to each of the heads l8. As best shown in Fig. 1. the free orouter end of each head l8 and tongue 20 is beveled or tapered so that apair of the intercell posts projecting up at the end of the head l8 maybe clamped in the opening l9 by moving the head horizontally toward theposts while the posts are confined against movement away from the headby engagement with one of th frame bars i6. These bars l6 are recessedto receive the beveled ends of the tongues 20 and heads i8.

To actuate the heads I8 I provide a horizontally extending lever 2|having handles 22 oflset upward from opposite ends. This leveris pivotedon a vertical bolt 23 threaded in the bar l5 and has short links 24connecting it respectively to the heads la. The links are mounted inrecesses 25 formed in the heads I8 and project at opposite sides of thebolt 23. By pivoting the lever II in the appropriate direction the.heads l8 are simultaneously actuatedtoward the respective pairs ofintercell posts which have members II and I2 disposed in the openingsbepositions shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The carrier frame, hereinbefore described, is

detachably fastened by bolts 26 to a horizontally extending bracket 21.As best shown in Fig. 5, the bracket 21 is integral with a verticallyelon: gated bearing 28 slidably embracing a post 28. This post iscylindrical and is rigidly supported at its lower end on a base plate38. A key 3| projects from the periphery of the post 28 to slidablyengage a keyway formed in and extending to the lower extremity of thebearing 28. The bracket 21 and mechanism supported therebymay be movedupward from the position shown in Fig. until the key 3| passes out ofengagement with the keyway in the bearing 28 and thereafter the bracketsupporting the jig carrier may be turned to one side about the axis ofthe post 28. To limit upward movement of the bearing 28 a flanged collar32 is secured to the post and is joined by three bolts "to a similarcollar 34 which is slidable on the post and resiliently held in spacedrelation to the collar 82 by helical springs 85 confined on the bolts 33between the collars. The collar 32 is fixed in such position relative tothe upper end of the bearing. 28 that the latter in its upward movementstrikes the collar 34 before the key way in the bearing 28 passesentirely out of engagement with the key 3|. When it is desired to rotatethe bracket 21 and jig carrier away from the path of the batteries, thebearing 28 is moved upward against the action of the springs 85 asufficient distance to free the keyway from the key 3|, then the bearing28 is rotated so that the key 3|, being .out of alignment with its way,supports the jig carrier in elevated position.

To facilitate raising the jig carrier relative to the post 29 byrelieving the operator of the weight of the mechanism, I provide acounterbalance comprising a tension spring 38 secured at one end to thebase plate 38 and connected at the other end to suitable mechanism forim parting an upward thrust to the bearing 28. This mechanism comprisesa crank arm 31 fixed at one end on a rock shaft 38 and having its otherend connected by an adjustable link 39 to the upper end of the spring36. The shaft 38 is supported in a bearing 48 mounted on the base plate38. A second crank arm 4| is secured to the shaft 38 at one end and hasa bifurcated end 42 slidably engaging a stud 43 projecting from an arm44 depending from the bearing 28, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Batteries in the process of manufacture are moved along a conveyor 45having parallel side rails 48 for guiding the batteries, one afteranother, beneath the jig carrier (Figs. 1 and 5). The batteries passalong the carrier 45 in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 1and are stopped beneath the jig by a stop member 41 mounted on ahorizontally movable arm 48. The arm 48 is slidable longitudinally in abearing 49 projecting up from the base plate 38 and has a bifurcated endconnected by a pin 58 to the crank arm 31. The pin 58 is movable in anelongated slot 5| formed in the arm 31. As the jig carrier is moved downfrom its elevated position shown in Fig. 2, the stop arm 48 thrusts themember '41 into the path of a battery on the conveyor 45 so that thebattery is stopped with its top opening in registry with the descendingjigcarrier.

My device is adapted for use with batteries of various sizes and shapesand the necessary adjustments may be made quickly and easily. Jigcarriers of various sizes to flt in the top of several batteries to beconstructed may be substituted one for the other on the bracket 21, theconnections being made by the use of the bolts 28. To stop the batteriesof different sizes in registry with the corresponding, jig carrier,

I provide stop members 41 of various dimensions longitudinally of theconveyor, as indicated by the dottedlines 410., Fig. 1. To facilitatethe sub-, stitution of one stop member for another, I construct themembers 41 as illustrated in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 6.. The bottom ofeach stop member is slotted to receive the arm 48 and the latter isperforated vertically to receive and fit a stud 52 which is fixed in themember 41... I

Operation In operation, the batteries are fed to the jig along theconveyor and approximate alignment with the carrier is maintained by theside rails 48. Assuming that the jig carrier is in the elevated positionshown in Fig. 2, when a battery arrives beneath the jig the operatorgrasps the handles 22 and with the clamping heads |8 in the openposition indicated in Fig. 1, presses down so that the bearing 28 slidesdown the post 28 while the stop member 41 is thrust toward the operatorinto the path of a battery on the conveyor. With the battery inengagement with the stop member 41 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.3 the carrier frame members I4 and I8 and guide lugs H are in registrywith the top opening of the batteryand further downward movement causesWith the jig carrier in fully depressed position,

the operator merely pivots the lever 2| in counter-clockwise directionas viewed in Fig. 1 to clamp the posts and intercell connectors in thejig. The tongues 28 of the heads I 8 pass beneath the connector membersII and I2 while the vertical edges of such members and the verticalsurfaces of the posts 8 and 8, at all four sides, are confined in thejig, leaving the top surfaces exposed for the application of heatsuificient to unite the connector members. With the members in the jigthe heating or burning operation is performed quickly, whereupon themolten metal is allowed to solidify thus uniting the members. Theoperator finally withdraws the heads l8 by pivoting the lever 2|clockwise and then raises the jig carrier with the assistance of thespring 38. The operation of raising the carrier withdraws the stopmember 41 from the path of the battery which is thereupon moved alongthe conveyor. In this manner the jig is used in succeeding batteries toquickly and uniformly construct the intercell connections.

It will beunderstood that the operation of uniting intercell posts isgreatly facilitated and the time consumed in this work is greatlyreduced by the use of my device. When the jig is not required and it'isdesired to entirely clear the conveyor for the production of other typesof batteries, the jig carrier mounted on the bracket 21 is actuatedforcibly upward to compress the springs 35 so that the key 8| passes otuof engagement with the keyway in the bearing 28 whereupon the latter,together with the jig carrier, is rotated about the axis of the post 2!to a position above the base plate 30 where the key 3| supports themechanism in elevated and retracted position.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In a jig for a storage battery having a container and a plurality ofelements projecting up within said container, the combination with a jigframe formed to fit in the top of said container and having an openingto receive said elements, means movable in said frame for holding saidbattery elements together, a substantially vertical guide for movementof said frame to and from the top of said container, a substantiallyhorizontal guide for the battery container beneath said frame and meansfor stop ping the container in registry with said frame beneath thesame.

2. In a jig for a storage battery having a container and a plurality ofpairs of elements projecting up within said container, the combinationwith a jig frame formed to fit in the top of said container and havingopenings to receive said elements, means movable in said frame forholding said elements together in pairs, a substantially vertical guidefor movement of said frame to and from the top of said container and acounterbalance tending to move said frame upward on said substantiallyvertical guide.

3. In a jig for a storage battery having a container and a plurality ofpairs of elements projecting up within said container, the combinationwith a jig frame formed to fit in the top of said container and havingopenings to receive said elements, means movable in said frame forholding said elements together in pairs, a substantially vertical guidefor movement of said frame to and from the top of said container, asubstantially horizontal guide for said container beneath said frame,means for stopping the container in registry with said frame beneath thesame on said horizontal guide and a counterbalance tending to move saidframe upward on said substantially vertical guide.

4. In a jig for a storage battery having a container and a plurality ofpairs of elements projecting up within said container, the combinationwith a jig frame formed to fit in the top of said container and havingopenings to receive said elements, means movable in said frame forholding said battery elements together in pairs, a substantiallyvertical guide for movement of said frame to and from the top of saidcontainer, a substantially horizontal guide for said container beneathsaid frame and means for guiding said frame to a position laterally ofsaid substantially horizontal guide.

5. In a jig for a storage battery having a container and a plurality ofpairs of elements projecting up within said container, the combinationwith a jig frame formed to fit in the top of said container and havingopenings to receive said elements, means movable in said frame forholding said battery elements together in pairs, a substantiallyvertical guide for movement of said frame to and from the top of saidcontainer, a substantially horizontal guide for said container beneathsame frame, means for stopping the container on said substantiallyhorizontal guide in registry with said frame beneath the same and meansfor guiding said frame to a position laterally of said substantiallyhorizontal guide.

6. In a jig for a storage battery having a container and a plurality ofpairs of posts projecting upwardly in said container to be joinedtogether, the combination of a jig frame formed to fit in the top ofsaid container and having openings, each adapted to receive a pair ofsaid posts, clamping heads movable in said frame and formed to coacttherewith in confining the sides of the posts in said openings, meansfor actuating said clamping heads to and from engagement with the posts,means for guiding said frame substantially vertically to and from thetop of said container, means for guiding said container substantiallyhorizontally along a determined path beneath said frame, a stop membermovable into said path to arrest the container in registry with saidframe and means operatively connecting said stop member to said framewhereby said 7. In a jig for forming intercell connectors in situ withina storage battery container having an open top, a partition dividing thecontainer into cells, a multiplicity of plates and separators in eachcell and a pair of posts severally connected to groups of plates in therespective cells and projecting up at opposite sides of said partition,the improvements which comprise, a frame fitting within and below thetop of said container and having an opening to receive said posts, afixed member of said frame fitting between said posts and a wall of thecontainer, a clamping head slidable on said frame within said openingand extending below the top of the container wallsfsaid head havingspaced parallel side bars movable longitudinally to and from said framemember and formed to fit and confine opposite, outer surfaces of saidposts respectively, a tongue projecting from said head between said sidebars and movable therewith above said partition to form a mold bottomadapted to abut against the inner opposed surfaces of said postsrespectively and against said frame member, a mold recess being formedin said head above said tongue to shape an inter-cell connector in situand means for forcibly actuating said head to and from engagement withsaid posts and frame member.

8. In a jig for forming intercell connectors in situ within a storagebattery container having a rectangular open top, a partition dividingthe container into cells, the upper edge of said partition being belowthe upper edges of the container walls, a multiplicity of plates andseparators in each cell and a pair of posts severally connected togroups of plates in the respective cells and projecting up at oppositesides of said partition, the improvements which comprise, a framefitting within the top of said container and movable downward therein atleast to the upper edge of said partition, said frame having an openingto receive said posts, a fixed member of said frame fitting between saidposts and a wall of the container and extending across said partltion, aclamping head slidable horizontally on said frame within said opening,the lower face of said head extending below the top of the containerwalls, spaced parallel side bars integral with said head, movablelongitudinally to and from said frame member and formed to fit andconfine opposite, outer surfaces of said posts respectively, a tongueprojecting from said head between said side bars and movable therewithalong the upper edge of said partition to form a mold bottom adapted toengage the inner opposed surfaces of said posts respectively and to abutagainst said frame member, a mold recess being formed in said head abovesaid tongue to shape an inter-cell connector in situ and means forforcibly actuating said head to and from engagement with said posts andframe member.

9 In a jig for forming intercell connectors in situ within a storagebattery container having an open top, partitions dividing said containerinto at least three cells, a multiplicity of plates and separatorswithin each cell and a pair of posts severally connected to groups ofplates in the, adjoining cells and projecting up at opposite sides ofeach of said partitions, one pair of posts being located near one sidewall of the container and the other pair being located near the oppositeside wall thereof, the improvements which comprise, a frameflttingwithin and below the top of said container and having separate openingsto receive the pairs of posts respectively, clamping heads slidablehorizontally in said frame openings to and from opposite wallsof thecontainer respectively, each of said heads being formed to clampopposite outer surfaces of the posts of a pair. a tongue projectinghorizontally from each of said heads and movable therewith to fitbetween the posts of a pair, said tongues constituting the bottom ofintercell connector molds, mold recesses being formed in said headsabove the tongues thereof to shape an intercell connector in situ andmeans for forcibly actuating said heads in opposite directions to andfrom engagement with said posts of the respective pairs 10. The jigdescribed in claim '7 in which said means for forcibly actuating saidheads in opposite directions comprise a lever pivoted on a verticalfulcrum on said frame and means connecting said heads to said lever atopposite sides of the fulcrum.

11. ha jig for forming intercell connectors in situ within a storagebattery container having an open rectangular top, parallel partitionsdividing said'container into at least three cells, a multiplicity ofplates and separators within each cell and a pair of posts severallyconnected to groups of plates in the adjoining cells and projecting upat opposite sides'of each of said partitions, one pair of posts beinglocated near one side .wall of the container'and the other pair. beinglocated near the opposite side wall thereof;

the improvements which comprise, a frame fltting within and below thetop of said container and having separate openings to receive the pairsof posts respectively, a fixed member of said frame fitting between eachpair of said postsand the adjacent wall of the container, clamping headsslidable in said frame openings to and from of said heads between theside bars thereof and movable therewith along the top of a partition toengage one of said frame members, said tongues constituting the bottomof intercell connector molds in engagement with the inner surfaces ofthe posts of the respective pairs, mold recesses beinglformed in saidheads above the tongues thereof to shape intercell connectors in situ,means connecting said heads'for movement in unison and in-oppositedirections and means for forcibly actuating said heads in oppositedirections to and from engagement with said posts and frame membersrespectively.

12. The jig described in claim 7 in which said means for connecting saidclamping heads together for movement in unison comprises a horizontallymovable lever pivoted centrally on said frame and means Joining saidheads to said lever at points equally spaced from the lever fulcrum andat opposite sides thereof.

JOHN W. YOUNG.

